Beach Boys ‘Made In California’ Box Set Announced

Last year, as the Beach Boys kicked off their 50th anniversary celebration, a multi-disc box set was supposed to be part of that. It was put on hold, until now.

'Made In California' was originally announced to be released in early 2012 as the kick off of the 50th celebration. A variety of issues held up its release, but now, Capitol Records has announced a street date of Aug. 27.

The set will contain over seven and a half hours of music, including 60 previously unreleased tracks, along with the hits and album tracks of the band's 50 year run. Included will be alternate takes, live recordings, and demos, as well as some radio and television performances.

There were reports early on that Mike Love, the notorious stick in the mud, had demanded certain unreleased tracks be taken off. Apparently, it has remained intact. In a statement on the box, Love said, "This box set captures the evolution of a dream which started with a family singing Everly Brothers songs around a piano, to creating the harmonies that fans would carry in their hearts for a lifetime."

'Made In California' will be packaged to look like a high school yearbook, and will include a reproduction of an essay, titled 'My Philosophy,' written by Brian Wilson in 1959, while still a student. The package also includes photos, memorabilia, classic Beach Boys artwork and more from the bands archives, as well as notations from Love, Wilson, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks.

Earlier this year, it was announced and Love and Johnston were set to carry on with the Beach Boys name, leaving Jardine, Marks and Wilson in the dust. Since then, Wilson has re-signed with Capitol Records and is working on a new album, with some help from Marks and Jardine. He is also hitting the road with the duo.